Our mission: As climate and environmentally friendly as possible
Climate change has an impact on the entire world, ecology, people and economy. The Wintersport-Arena Sauerland is also facing up to this problem. Operators and ski and cross-country ski areas are endeavoring to develop strategies to deal with the effects and to work as climate and environmentally friendly as possible.
Due to the urgency of the problems, openness is required to educate a competition of the most successful technologies on the market. It is necessary to develop innovative ideas, implement them, test the measures and continuously improve them in order to achieve the best possible result.
On the basis of many, sometimes different projects, the Wintersport-Arena Sauerland is exchanging experiences between ski resorts, which benefits everyone involved, but above all the climate and the environment. The aim is to offer climate-neutral winter sports by 2030.
To understand the impact of winter sports and the influence of the Wintersport-Arena Sauerland, it is important to know: The Wintersport-Arena Sauerland is a platform on which the lift and cross-country ski trail operators along the Rothaar ridge have joined forces.
The share of the CO2 footprint of a winter sports day is divided into different areas (ski area, gastronomy, access, accommodation), over which the operators usually have no or only indirect influence. In order to illustrate the impact of the measures taken, the shares of the individual areas are listed. The actual winter sports offer accounts for 16 percent. The lift operators have taken various measures to further reduce this proportion.
Use of renewable energies
A 6,000 square meter photovoltaic system has been in place at the Remmeswiese in Winterberg since 2011. With an average solar yield of 245,000 kWh per year, the CO2 savings amount to around 146,000 kilograms. The lift operators have installed a further nine photovoltaic systems on various functional buildings in the ski lift carousel. They generate a further 600,000 kWh per year. Two new photovoltaic systems went into operation in the fall of 2022 at Remmeswiese in Winterberg, one in the summer of 2023 at the top station of the K1 chairlift at Köhlerhagen in Willingen and a solar thermal system on the St. Georg ski jump in Winterberg. The energy yield is currently being recorded and will be included in the calculation as soon as possible.
In addition, the four largest ski resorts in the region have been using exclusively green electricity since January 1, 2022. This means that the proportion of green electricity in the Sauerland ski resorts in winter operation is 87.6 percent*.
Wind power could supply large amounts of energy and make winter sports in the Sauerland winter sports arena climate-neutral comparatively quickly. The feasibility of wind turbines was examined many years ago, but failed due to feed-in possibilities and legal regulations. Following the relaxation of the requirements and expansion of the designated areas, this topic has been put to the test again and the feasibility of different locations is being examined once more.
Energy saving
Snow management has made great progress in recent years. Increased efficiency and longer durability of snow as a resource ultimately means a reduction in energy consumption.
One particularly effective measure is the introduction of GPS snow depth measurement in the four largest ski resorts. This technology has been in use since winter 2019/2020. During grooming, a transmitter on the snow groomer sends signals to a satellite, which transmits them to a computer. There, the data is compared with a previously recorded ground relief. This enables the operators to record the snow depth to the centimeter and work more precisely and in line with requirements. Experience shows that using this technology saves around 10 percent of snowmaking energy - while at the same time improving the quality of the slopes.
The use of winch rollers protects the snow and ultimately results in less energy being used. Winch rollers are now used almost exclusively in the larger ski resorts.
Lift operators use modern, state-of-the-art snow guns wherever possible, as they are much more efficient. Older devices are being replaced on an ongoing basis. In 2023, for example, new models of fan guns ("snow cannons") will be able to produce twice as much snow with the same amount of energy as in 2000. New snow lances even produce three times as much snow as models that are 15 years older. The efficiency of the entire system, from the pump house to the snow gun, is kept as high as possible through regular inspections and maintenance by specialized experts.
In the ski resorts themselves, it is not snowmaking but slope preparation that requires the most energy. The use of HVO has been examined for some time, but has so far failed due to the availability of "biodiesel". In the Winterberg ski lift carousel, the slope rollers have been operated exclusively with HVO since winter 2024/2025. The use of this environmentally friendly new type of fuel saves up to 90 percent CO2 compared to conventional diesel, meaning that the snow groomers are almost climate-neutral.
In Willingen, the first floodlit slope (Köhlerhagen) was equipped with energy-saving LED spotlights in winter 2018/2019. Other operators are testing whether LED spots are bright enough for floodlight operation and what energy savings can be achieved with them.
Classic snowmaking using fan guns ("snow cannons") and snow lances uses the cold provided by nature to finely atomize clear water so that it freezes in the cold outside air and trickles to the ground as snow. For some years now, all-weather snow guns have been used in the Winterberg ski lift carousel, which can produce snow regardless of the outside temperature. Initially, these were individual systems that were installed for testing and development purposes. The technology has since proven its worth and energy requirements have been continuously reduced.
Wherever cold is produced, heat is generated. From the outset, the aim of manufacturers and lift operators was to utilize this waste heat, which is now possible. It is transferred to water by means of a heat exchanger and conducted through insulated pipes. By using the waste heat, the energy balance is currently improving enormously. As a pilot project, a system supplies the Schneewittchenhaus (catering, ski rental, ticket sales and staff accommodation) with district heating. The all-weather snow system at the Schneewittchenhaus supplies up to 95 kw of usable energy for heat recovery. By way of comparison, a heat pump for a single-family home (100 to 150 square meters) usually provides around 5 to 7.5 kW of heating power.
The operators at Poppenberg in the Winterberg ski lift carousel also want to use the waste heat from their system. Construction work has already begun, but will have to pause over the winter. The operators expect the project to be completed in the course of 2025 and, if successful, further heat recovery systems will be installed as soon as possible. Once completed, up to 160 kw of heat output could be used there.
Multifunctional buildings and other facilities
The Schneewittchenhaus (ticket offices, catering, rental, staff apartments, snow groomer garage) in the ski lift carousel produces 103 percent of the electricity it needs itself. Energy efficiency was taken into account from the outset when planning the building. Photovoltaic systems have been installed on the south-facing roof surfaces. Other measures include heat recovery from exhaust air and cooling systems.
The buildings on the Poppenberg in Winterberg have been heated with wood chips since the winter of 2022/2023. These include the restaurant, a multifunctional building with ski rental and the operations building with snow groomer garage. The wood comes from local forests and is shredded and stored on site. This keeps transportation distances to a minimum.
Promoting the attractiveness of traveling by public transport
Travel to and from the resort accounts for 49 percent of the CO2 footprint of a winter sports day. However, the choice of means of transportation (bus, train, car, carpooling, e-mobility if applicable) is up to the guest. The lift operators have little influence on bus and train services. However, the ski resorts have taken a number of measures to make traveling by public transport more attractive:
Since winter 2017/2018, the Winterberg ski bus has been supplementing the often sparse regular bus service in rural regions, especially at weekends. It runs from Winterberg train station, past many hotels, to the ski resorts of Winterberg, Altastenberg and Neuastenberg. The aim is to encourage guests to leave their cars at home or at the hotel. This is not only to reduce CO2 emissions, but also to relieve traffic and the parking situation. Since winter 2021/2022, a further measure has been added to this offer. With the Wintersport-Arena Card (valid in seven ski resorts) and the Skiliftkarussell+ Ticket (valid in five Winterberg ski resorts), the ski bus can be used free of charge.
To make traveling by train more attractive, a pedestrian bridge is planned at the train station in Willingen. The Ettelsberg cable car valley station will then be 350 meters away from the platform. The bridge was originally due to be completed in 2022. Due to the various crises, implementation has been postponed.
Directing demand and regulating traffic is the task of the AIR project (AI-based Recommender for Sustainable Tourism). In a nationwide network of destination practitioners and research partners, a digital visitor management system is being created using AI. It is intended to provide visitors with suitable information about the expected occupancy rate at the desired destination at an early stage and draw their attention to alternative offers and public transport options. The first prototype is already in use. The results obtained are continuously checked, compared and adapted.
Ecology
18.5 percent of the ski slope areas in Sauerland/Siegerland are either FFH areas or nature reserves. In the Willingen ski area, the figure is as high as 42 percent. Above all, mountain heaths and mountain meadows have this status as a traditional form of landscape. While the development of winter tourism began successfully in 1905, these protected areas were designated at the turn of the millennium in ski resorts that had long been in existence. Skiing makes it possible to preserve them because the areas are productive in winter during the natural rest period. This allows the areas to be farmed extensively in summer. In summer, the traditional but now uneconomical forms of cultivation can be carried out. The corresponding work is partly carried out by the lift operators. On the other hand, subsidies are paid for these efforts to ensure that the work is carried out in the interests of nature conservation.
The areas used by the lift operators for winter sports are mainly leased areas. The lift operators are responsible for complying with the strict conditions imposed by the protected status. For example, they clean the areas of discarded containers or lost objects and support voluntary waste collection campaigns. In some cases, the municipal forestry department is supported in the reforestation of areas damaged by the bark beetle infestation during the summer.
Catering in the ski areas and on the cross-country ski trails
A visit to a ski hut or hiking lodge is usually part of a winter sports day. When calculating the sustainability or CO2 emissions of a day's skiing, 14 percent is accounted for by catering directly on the slopes (huts). These huts are not managed by the ski area itself, particularly in the core area, i.e. in the larger ski areas. Operators are often entrepreneurs who work independently of the lift operators. In some cases, the lift operators also have a gastronomic operation (hut), which they can influence in terms of sustainability development.
Snow White House
The Schneewittchenhaus produces electricity using a photovoltaic system. Depending on the intensity of the sun, up to 103 percent in some years. Other measures include Heat recovery from exhaust air and cooling systems. From winter 2024/2025, the restaurant will be heated with waste heat from the slab ice rinks.
Möppis Hütte
Since the new hut was built in winter 2019/2020, Möppi's hut on the Poppenberg in Winterberg has only used unbreakable, high-quality reusable plastic containers (glasses, cups, plates) made from food-safe, recyclable material. This not only increases safety, especially in après-ski operations. Glass production is a particularly energy-intensive industry. Whereas previously new glasses had to be purchased several times a season, loss due to breakage is now almost completely eliminated. The production of plastic containers requires only a fraction of the energy that would be needed for the production of glasses. The hut is heated with wood chips from local forests. From winter 2024/2025, the restaurant will be heated with the waste heat from the plate ice machines.
Graf Stolberg Hut (Willingen)
The Graf-Stolberg-Hütte is almost CO2-neutral. The energy required comes from renewable energy sources. Wood from local forests is used for heating. There is a PV system on the roof, which generates a large proportion of the electricity required. The operators have installed heat exchangers and use the waste heat from the refrigeration units. The menu features regional products, predominantly game from the forests. They completely avoid products from factory farming and imports. Biological waste is disposed of via a "Fresdepot". This is an underground tank that feeds the biogas plant in the neighboring village and supplies the village with heat. Only natural cleaning agents are used for cleaning. Plastic is avoided wherever possible. With a few exceptions, reusable containers are used. This has made it possible to reduce residual waste from over 5 tons to less than 1 ton per year. Recycled material is used wherever possible. For example, bin liners made from collected plastic waste ("wild plastic") are used. The operators support regional nature conservation initiatives such as planting campaigns, insect rescue or the mountain heath project (mountain heath lambs). For environmentally friendly mobility, all permanent employees have been given an e-bike.
Measures such as heat recovery, combined heat and power generation, effective insulation, food made from regional and/or organic products, vegetarian or vegan dishes, etc. are available in many huts and cannot be listed in full here. Some establishments are already part of the TourCert process or will soon be.
Accommodation
21 percent of CO2 emissions are attributable to accommodation and catering. Although the ski resorts have little influence on measures in this area, they have a decisive influence on the sustainability of a ski day. Guests in the region have the opportunity to select their hosts according to sustainability criteria. Many hosts are on the right track.
The Sauerland - represented by Sauerland Tourism - in cooperation with the Siegerland-Wittgenstein Tourism Association has been certified as a "Sustainable Destination" since the end of April 2024 and has been awarded the renowned "TourCert" seal. To achieve this, Sauerland Tourism has completed an extensive certification process that includes many fundamental steps. The partner network of sustainable businesses already includes many hosts and is constantly growing.